that challenged China’s sovereignty as activists increased the pressure on the government to meet their
demands.
Some events saw peaceful sit-ins while others quickly escalated as protesters threw rocks and constructed
barricades to prevent riot police from moving forward. A police spokeswoman said 82 people were arrested
at 5.30pm, the largest number in a single day since protests began on 9 June, with protests expected to
continue late into the night. At least 420 people have been arrested in total since the protests began, though
not all have been charged, and police have fired 1,000 rounds of tear gas and about 160 rubber bullets.
Earlier, speaking to the media for the first time in two weeks, Ms Lam remained defiant as she rejected calls
from protesters demanding her resignation, saying the protests are damaging Hong Kong’s economy. “Such
extensive disruptions in the name of certain demands or uncooperative movement have seriously
undermined Hong Kong law and order and are pushing our city, the city we all love, and many of us helped
to build, to the verge of a very dangerous situation,” she said.
Protesters occupy a shopping mall yesterday
(EPA)Makeshift protective gear outside the central
government complex (Reuters)“They claim they want a revolution and to restore Hong Kong. These actions have far exceeded their
original political demands,” she added.
For nine consecutive weeks Hong Kong has seen mass demonstrations triggered earlier this summer by a
legislative bill that residents feared would trample their civil and political rights. The clashes yesterday mark
a continuation of violence seen over the course of the weekend, as well as an emerging protest tactic of
holding simultaneous demonstrations to keep police at bay.
At a peaceful protest near government headquarters on Hong Kong island, residents said they were angry at